• World Cup

Hodgson: Put £10 on us for World Cup

Roy Hodgson says England will "take what they get" in the draw © PA Photos

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Roy Hodgson is optimistic of England's chances of winning the 2014 World Cup ahead of Friday's draw when the manager will discover his nation's opponents in Brazil.

Hodgson is in Brazil for the draw, which takes place at 16.00 GMT, as he awaits next summer's group stage opponents, with the likes of Italy and hosts Brazil possible opponents.

Quoted in the Guardian, Hodgson was asked whether he would back Brazil to clinch World Cup glory with £10 of his own money, and he replied: "No - I'd put it on England.

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"I'd have a chance of losing it on Brazil, so why not put it on the team I want to win it?"

He added: "We're not one-dimensional in any way. There are options. I think the emergence of these younger players with slightly different skills to what we had in the past gives us different options.

"We are here, we are part of it, that's a great feeling and the draw will be exciting. Like all draws we hope we get one we like the look of, but you take what you get, that's the most important thing."

Hodgson reiterated his concerns about where England will be playing over which sides, amid concerns about possible high temperatures and long distances between some venues.

"One of the things you have to think about in Brazil, from Porto Alegre all the way up to Manaus, is the fact that three games in nine or 10 days is going to be very tough for any team, let alone a European team," he said.

"Will we have enough legs, will we have enough running power, will we have enough endurance, will we have enough youth?"

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